Hormones Flashcards
What are hormones?
The chemical messengers of the body.
What other ‘structures’ in the body also act as chemical messengers?
Neurotransmitters.
How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?
Hormones take time to relay messages and they work over time.
How do hormones travel?
They travel via the circulatory system of the body, via the bloodstream.
The endocrine system…
… makes hormones.
Structures that make up the endocrine system?
- thyroid, adrenal, thymus & pituitary glands
- the pancreas
- the hypothalamus
- testes & ovaries
What do hormones regulate?
They regulate physiology & behaviour, for e.g. breathing & temperature, tissue function, metabolic rate, reproduction, stress, growth & development, sleep, mood, etc.
The pituitary gland is important for?
The production of hormones.
What is produced by the pituitary gland?
- the growth hormone
- adrenocorticotropic
- antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)
What does adrenocorticotropic do?
It produces cortisol.
What is cortisol needed for?
To combat stress and maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Role of antidiuretic hormone?
To regulate water balance in the body.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone is also produced in the pituitary gland.
What does this hormone do?
It helps to regulate the body’s metabolism.
What does the thymus produce?
Hormones linked to puberty.
What does the pineal gland produce?
Melatonin
Role of melatonin?
Regulating sleep patterns.
The testes produce testosterone, which has a role in?
Maintaining sex drive and producing sperm.
The ovaries produce oestrogen & progestrone, which relate to?
The menstrual cycle & development of breasts.
What does the thyroid control?
Metabolism
The adrenal gland relates to?
Heart functioning and distributing stored fat.
What does the parathyroid relate to?
Good bone development.
Function of pancreas?
Promotes healthy levels of blood sugar.
How do hormones work?
By binding to receptor proteins in target cells & changing cell function.
What can hormone secretion be triggered by?
By other hormones or by activity and the neuronal level.
Behaviour is affected by hormones, based on?
- when they are released
- how they are received at the cell level
- how concentrated they are
What else can affect the release of hormones?
The environment
Hormones can be used as?
Medication
Use of oestrogens & progestogens as medication?
- as a contraceptive
- in hormone replacement theory (HRT) to prevent menopausal symptoms
Insulin as medication?
It is used by diabetics.
Steroid creams are used for what as a medication?
For skin disorders.
Use of thryoxin as medication?
Used for people with thryoid condiitons to help regulate the body.
What are steroids?
Hormones used for autoimmune disorders & other problems.
Glucocorticoids can help to?
Reduce inflammation.
